Colonel Earl C. Sturm graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School Class #345, 5 September 1944, and served with the 3d Infantry Division in Europe as a Supply Officer. He was in the Organized Reserve Corps from 1946 until 1950. | In 1951, Colonel Sturm was assigned to the 8th Division, Korea where he served as a Battalion Executive Officer and then to the 2d Division, Korea where he served as a platoon leader, company commander, battalion S4, and a Battalion S3. Colonel Sturm became Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of Iowa in Iowa City from 1952 to 1955 after which he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning. He underwent Airborne Training in 1956 before going to Germany as a Company Commander in the 6th Infantry Regiment. He was transferred to the Headquarters, Berlin Command as G4. He also served as S4 for 1st Airborne Battle Group, 503d Infantry before returning to CONUS and an assignment as G3 for Headquarters, XVIII Airborne Corps. | Colonel Sturm attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth from 1961 to1962 before becoming S4 for the 4th Cavalry, USARPAC - Korea. In 1963, he became Brigade Executive Officer for the 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division - Korea before returning to Fort Benning as G3 Staff Officer, Headquarters, United States Army Garrison, Fort Benning in 1964. | Colonel Sturm was assigned as a Staff Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations in Washington, D.C. from 1965 to 1968 when he became the 1st Battalion Commander, 9th Infantry Division - Korea. Later in 1968, he became Plans Officer, G3 for the Eighth Army, USARPAC, and in 1969, Colonel Sturm became Advisor to the Ohio ARNG in Columbus, Ohio. | Colonel Sturm's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal (2d Award), the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with Star, the Parachutist Badge, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.